Issuu

SPECIAL EDITION

SEPTEMBER 2020

2020 COMMUNITY REPORT The Community Report highlights Harris County - Houston Sports Authority's (HCHSA) dedication to the community through the efforts of the HCHSA staff, partners, and volunteers. See how HCHSA is committed to serving the community through the diverse initiatives below.

IN THIS ISSUE HCHSA Board of Directors Staff

2 5

HCHSA INITIATIVES Houston Sports Awards

Brothers in Arms

BMX Lone Star Nationals

BMX 101 Programs

2026 Houston World Cup Bid

Q'D UP.

UHD Virtual Graduation

UHD Car Parade

Returning to Sports After Covid-19 20

HCHSA PARTNERSHIPS WWE Royal Rumble

XFL Houston Roughnecks

Simone Biles Invitational

Houston Outlaws

Great American 5000

HCHSA VOLUNTEERS Volunteers

26 #WeAreHoustonSports

MISSION STATEMENT Provide oversight to world-class, professional sports venues and promote the region for sports-related events, which enhance economic development and bring a better quality of life to residents.

BOARD MEMBERS IN THE COMMUNITY The Board of Directors is composed of citizens of Houston and Harris County, including business owners, entrepreneurs, and attorneys, as well as religious and community leaders. Each is selected by Harris County Commissioners Court or by the mayor and voted on by the Houston City Council. The Chairman of the Board is jointly selected by those bodies. This ensures that the taxpayers are represented while overseeing the investment in Houston’s major sports arenas. All board members are volunteers without a political agenda. Their mission is to provide citizens of Houston and Harris County state-of-the-art sports facilities to enable the destination to bring in revenues by attracting major sporting, entertainment, and convention events that, in turn, benefit the local and regional economy.

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#WeAreHoustonSports

SREBMEM DRAOB | PAGE 3

#WeAreHoustonSports

IN LOVING MEMORY OF REVEREND MANSON B. JOHNSON Our deepest condolences go out to the friends and family of Reverend Manson B. Johnson. Manson was a long-standing member of the Harris County - Houston Sports Authority Board, a celebrated reverend for more than 43 years in the Third Ward, and a true pillar of our community. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Holman Street Baptist Church family, where his legacy will live on forever. Click here to view some of the amazing initiatives of Reverend Manson B. Johnson.

WORDS FROM OUR CEO "It was no secret that I adored this man. He was a faithful Harris County - Houston Sports Authority board member, a servant of God, and my friend. The world will not be the same without Rev. Manson B. Johnson. Praying for Matthew B. Johnson and the entire family. I’m heartbroken that COVID-19 struck such a community champion." Janis Burke

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#WeAreHoustonSports

HCHSA TEAM The team is filled with hard-working, talented and skilled experts. Meet the dedicated individuals who help bring sports and sports-related events to Houston which enhance economic development and bring better quality of life to our community.

Janis Burke, CEO

Tom Waggoner, Controller

Phil Ochoa, Director of Finance & Treasury

Monica Nieves, Administrative Assistant

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Edie Jeanes, Administrative Manager & Executive Assistant To CEO

Jessica Townsend, Executive Assistant

Chris Massey, VP

Patti Smith, VP Communications

Holly Kesterson, VP Events

Athena Kosich, ETF Manager

Gray Moore, Video & Digital Services Manager

Meredith Pardue, Athlete Affairs & Accommodations Manager

Kate Campbell, Social Media & Web Services Coordinator

Lauren Goodman, Community Relations & Volunteer Manager

Kristin Culwell, Director of Operations

Mahoghani Johnson, Event Sales Coordinator

Anai Rodriguez, Accounting Clerk

#WeAreHoustonSports

HCHSA TEAM CONTINUED

Keron Brown, BMX Program Coordinator

Chris Canetti, Houston 2026 World Cup Bid Committee President

Katarina Casas, Marketing Coordinator

Diana Harris, Events Coordinator

Melanie Hauser, Freelance Writer

Donovan Long, Race Director

Jennifer Mamajek, Marketing Strategist

Blake Maniscalco, Event Operations Coordinator2021 AAU Junior Olympic

Glen Schorr, Consultant

Mackenzie Skrla, Event Operations Coordinator2021 AAU Junior Olympic

Bernard Mendoza, Event Operations Coordinator2021 AAU Junior Olympic

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Cody Smart, BMX Operations Manager

#WeAreHoustonSports

MAET ASHCH | PAGE 7

#WeAreHoustonSports

Third Annual

The Houston Sports Awards was created by HCHSA to celebrate the most accomplished athletes, coaches, teams, contributors, and moments in the Houston sports community. With a Roaring ‘20s backdrop, the third annual Houston Sports Awards honored three Houston icons whose careers were marked by golden Olympic moments – Carl Lewis, Mary Lou Retton, and Rudy Tomjanovich – as the 2020 Class of the Houston Sports Hall of Fame presented by PNC Bank.

HOUSTON SPORTS HALL OF FAME RECIPIENTS

Rudy Tomjanovich Carl Lewis

Mary Lou Retton

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#WeAreHoustonSports

award recipients

Coach of the Year Kelvin Sampson

Moment of the Year Jose Altuve

Athlete of the Year Alex Bregman

High School Athlete of the Year Matthew Boling

College Athlete of the Year Jalen Hurts

legacy award recipients

Sportsmanship Award Whitney Mercilus

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Lifetime Achievement Award Robert C. Mc Nair

Executive of the Year Jim Crane

Insperity Inspiration Award Peter Berry

#WeAreHoustonSports

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#WeAreHoustonSports

BROTHERS IN ARMS Brothers in Arms, formed under the leadership of Houston quarterbacks Andre Ware, Warren Moon, Deshaun Watson and Vince Young, are proud to offer financial assistance to graduating high school senior student-athletes who wish to attend a college or university. This one-time award will be given to minority students who display leadership qualities, play a high school sport, and are being raised by a single parent. Brothers In Arms, in partnership with the Sports Authority Foundation, awarded three inaugural $5,000 diversity scholarships at the Houston Sports Awards. Westside High School senior Vankey “Blu” Burks, Westbury senior Langston Ellis, and Sealy senior Matthew Lord received scholarships from Moon, Ware, and Young and will attend college in Fall 2020. Vankey will be attending SFA, Matthew will be attending SHSU, and Langston will be attending PVAMU.

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#WeAreHoustonSports

Houston's new Rockstar Energy Bike Park hosted the world's best BMX racers as they competed in the 2020 USA BMX Lone Star Nationals March 6-8. The bike park opened in the fall of 2019 to rave reviews from professional and amateur BMX racers alike. Professionals like Connor Fields and Alise Willoghby were present and competed to qualify for the 2020 UCI BMX World Championships. "This facility is the elite of the elite... having this in our backyard is the best thing that could’ve happened to the city of Houston", states former HCHSA BMX Operations Manager and professional BMX rider, Cody Smart who was joined by VP - Events Holly Kesterson and VP - Communications Patti Smith on HTV's City Pulse. Click here to see the full video.

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#WeAreHoustonSports

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#WeAreHoustonSports

BMX 101 PROGRAMS HCHSA found ways to promote the BMX events coming to Houston while impacting the kids in our community. Two BMX programs were created to introduce elementary students in the Greater Houston area to BMX during the 2020 Spring semester - BMX 101 and STEM Track Modeling.

BMX 101 Program This program was a supplement to Physical Education classes with the goal of getting K3rd grade students active through bike riding. HCHSA provided BMX-style pedal and balance bikes to the schools to teach students how to ride a bike.

STEM Track Modeling Program This week-long program taught fourth-grade students about BMX track design. Some major highlights included students having the opportunity to submit questions to professional track committees and video chat with a professional BMX rider. Another highlight was when the students toured the Rockstar Energy Bike Park facility. After the tour, the students used knowledge gained throughout the week and applied it to create their very own small-scale BMX track. Trophies were awarded by the judges to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams. Both programs were sponsored by HCHSA and were free for schools to participate. These partnerships included schools in six districts reached 12,346 students!

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#WeAreHoustonSports

HOUSTON 2026 BID COMMITTEE

SI NOTSUOH

"ERUTUF EHT FO YTIC S'ACIREMA"

Chris Canetti, President of Houston's 2026 World Cup Bid Committee, continues to work hard to bring the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup™ matches to Houston.

LATEST FIFA UPDATE: The Houston 2026 World Cup Bid Committee took another step in the selection process as a host city on Monday, July 20, when it made a one-hour virtual presentation to members of FIFA and U.S. Soccer. Houston is one of 17 cities under consideration to host matches for FIFA World Cup 2026. Over the past two decades, Houston has established itself as a championship city and hosted more major soccer events than any other large city in the U.S. "We had a positive and productive initial one-on-one meeting today," said Houston 2026 World Cup Bid President, Chris Canetti. "It was an opportunity for our city to highlight the work that we have put into this bid over the last 18 months". "Our goal was to make a strong first impression and to deliver a message that Houston is ready to deliver a safe and life-changing experience - a World Cup of the Future."

Click here to view the official statement.

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#WeAreHoustonSports

CONNECT THE CONTINENT. UNITE THE WORLD. HOUSTON I 2026 WORLD CUP BID CITY DECISION EXPECTED: END OF 2021

DIVERSITY IS OUR STRENGTH Houston is a young, diverse, vibrant, innovative city. In many ways, it reflects America. And, we are ready to launch the “FIFA World Cup of the Future.”

145+

Languages Spoken

20+ 28.5%

Racial & Ethnic Groups

WORLD CLASS RESOURCES The possibilities if Houston wins the bid

Foreign-Born Residents

HOUSTON IS TAKING ACTION! 26 initiatives for the bid in 2026

Art of Soccer: The Art of soccer is one of the 26 World Cup Bid initiatives. This is a community-wide art awareness campaign launched at the beginning of the year. Three-foot fiberglass soccer balls were sold to organizations to uniquely paint and display around Houston to artistically showcase our unity. Currently, 30 companies are participating. | PAGE 16

#WeAreHoustonSports

EPISODES Carl Lewis

Jeff Bagwell Episode 1

Episode 8

Roger

Mario Elie

Clemens Episode 2

Whitney

Q'D UP. BROUGHT SPORTS BACK

Mercilus Episode 3

It was the hottest show during quarantine! Q’D UP. launched in April was a weekly show created by HCHSA to fill the sports void during quarantine. We connected with some of Houston’s sports legends for some exclusive one-on-one conversations and had a lot of fun along the way! Little did we know what a wildly successful show it would become! With sports coming back, we’re looking to evolve Q’D UP. into a monthly show that will focus on both HCHSA initiatives as well as all things Houston Sports. While we’re hard at work getting ready to relaunch, you can catch up on our first 14 episodes by clicking here. We’ll be Q’D (back) UP. soon!

Vince Young & Coach Mack Brown Episode 10

Alex Episode 4

Q'D UP. 4 EqualitySpecial Edition

George

Episode 11

Bregman

Foreman Episode 5

Mary Lou Retton

Lance

Episode 12

McCullers Jr. Episode 6

Justin Reid Episode 7

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Episode 9

Astros Remix Episode 13

Brothers In Arms Episode 14

#WeAreHoustonSports

CONGRATULATIONS

CLASS

F 2020

SPRING GRADUATES!

HCHSA ASSISTS IN VIRTUAL GRADUATION The University of Houston-Downtown could not host the traditional graduation ceremony for the Spring Class of 2020 due to the pandemic. As a result, they reached out to HCHSA to create a virtual graduation. With the help of local dignitaries and sports stars, the HCHSA created an inspirational virtual celebration for all UHD's Spring graduates.

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#WeAreHoustonSports

HCHSA CAR PARADE

! s t a r g n o C ANAI RODRIGUEZ Class of 2020 BS Business Administration

One of HCHSA’s staff members was also a part of the University graduation

Houston-Downtown's

class.

Congratulations

Spring to

our

2020 team

member, Anai Rodriguez! Along with many other 2020 graduates, Anai overcame many obstacles to become a UHD graduate, but was not able to walk across the stage. The HCHSA leadership team knew how hard she worked and came up with a car parade celebration to give her a well-earned special moment.

Accounting

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#WeAreHoustonSports

RETURNING TO SPORTS AFTER COVID-19 On June 25, HCHSA invited their sponsorship partners to join a special panel discussion entitled, “Returning to Sports after Covid-19”. The panel included a group of Houston-based sports business experts to discuss issues around what sporting events might look like in the foreseeable future.

The Panelists

Doug Hall

Patrick Ryan

Geoff Kaplan

Jason Kohll

Manager,

Eventellect

Medical

Professional

Toyota Center

Ticketing

Administration,

Sports Partners

Houston

& Tippit & Moo

Texans

Advertising

General

Co-Founder

Director of

CEO,

Questions were posed from those in attendance to our panelists. Luckily, we are fortunate to have leaders in Houston who are experts in their field. They discussed what ticketing, sponsorship, fan/player safety, concessions, and venue protocols might look like as plans are being made for a return to sports. | PAGE 20

#WeAreHoustonSports

WWE ROYAL RUMBLE Sunday, January 26, 2020 Minute Maid Park

HCHSA supported one of WWE's "Big Four" events - Royal Rumble. Fans from across the nation showed up at Minute Maid Park to witness more than 30 of their favorite wrestlers as they competed in dramatic fashion to eliminate one another by tossing their rivals over the top rope. At the end of the matches, Drew McIntyre was the Last Man Standing, while Charlotte Flair was the Last Woman Standing. | PAGE 21

#WeAreHoustonSports

AUGUST 22, 2019

VOL. 29

XFL HOUSTON ROUGHNECKS As Houston's newest team, the Houston Roughnecks, were the XFL's only undefeated team during the 2020 season, which was cut short due to the pandemic. Houston's powerhouse team defeated teams like the Los Angeles Wildcats, St. Louis BattleHawks, and Tampa Bay Vipers to name a few. Their high-powered offense and tough defense attracted fans and made the Roughnecks one of the most popular teams in the league. Houston was also chosen to host the training camps and inaugural XFL Championship. Although it was cancelled due to the pandemic, this is a huge accomplishment for the city. Great job during the season, Roughnecks! You made Houston proud.

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#WeAreHoustonSports

SIMONE BILES INVITATIONAL

HCHSA supported the World Champions Centre with volunteer needs for the 2020 Biles International Invitational, which was held the weekend of February 13-16. More than 70 volunteers supported in timer and tabulator roles to allow approximately 2,500 athletes to participate in floor, beam, vault, and uneven bars events. The judges from the event enjoyed the help of our volunteers and requested to have us back next year! Once again, another successful event, thanks to our dedicated volunteers.

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#WeAreHoustonSports

HOUSTON OUTLAWS

Esports fans cheered on their favorite team, the Houston Outlaws, during their inaugural homestand at the Revention Music Center. The Outlaws are one of the most popular teams in the Overwatch League and made their debut on February 29. Fans from across the globe showed their support with a sell-out crowd as HCHSA's CEO, Janis Burke, spoke at the opening ceremony and helped cut the ribbon. Since the debut HCHSA and the Houston Outlaws have partnered on a variety of initiatives, such as Q'D UP. and #GamingTogether, and provided a new sense of sports community during quarantine. | PAGE 24

#WeAreHoustonSports

GREAT AMERICAN 5000

Team Houston Strong The Richmond Sports Backers created a cross country virtual race called the Great American 5000. The event is a multi-day/month team race to run/walk 5,000K (virtually) from San Francisco to New York. HCHSA has put together a team of 24 named "Houston Strong". An exciting perk of this virtual race is the ability to watch our team's progress online. Great American 5000 provides a map where we can track our team's daily efforts. You can also track the progress of each member of your team. We’ve got a good bragging-rights race within our team and expect to reach New York within the next week or two. Great job, team!

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#WeAreHoustonSports

HCHSA VOLUNTEERS WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU!

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#WeAreHoustonSports

"I volunteer with HCHSA because it’s very well

organized

and

supports

the

community. The staff truly cares about the volunteers

and

understands

what

means to be a Servant Leader. It’s not uncommon to see them roll up their sleeves and work alongside of you."

SLAINOMITSET REETNULOV

"I travel a lot for work and volunteering, whether at home or abroad, and it gives me the chance to contribute every day to the kind of community and world I want to live in. It gives me the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than myself and to use my skills and knowledge to assist people across the globe." -Torre Lodolce

"Since volunteering with HCHSA I have experienced a variety of activities. They have

ranged

telecommunications,

from

logistics,

supervision

and

many more. I enjoy what the HCHSA does in all types of sports. Those I had no familiarity with were the most fun. The event with the honorees receiving their rings (Houston Sports Hall of Fame). It was a tremendous event. Very engaging to be able to converse with some of Houston's great sports stars." - Michael Allston-Williams

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#WeAreHoustonSports

LETTER FROM THE CEO TO OUR VOLUNTEERS

We miss your smiling faces. We miss how hard you work and how much enthusiasm you bring to everything you do. We miss being able to stand beside you as we work together to bring Houston and Harris County more great sporting events. And we miss being able to thank you in person, high five each other, or give out hugs. It’s volunteer appreciation week and like everything else in our lives, there’s a new normal. We’re celebrating you from a social distance. We want you to know how much we care about you and appreciate all the wonderful talents you lend to the Harris County – Houston Sports Authority. We couldn’t do it without you. We’re blown away by the support of the Houston area and the dedication of our volunteer base. You’re only a call or an email away when we need you to help us host another incredible event. As we make our way through these difficult times and try to help flatten the curve of a global pandemic, we wanted to say thank you, thank you, thank you for your dedication and for always being there for our team. Stay safe. Mask up. And accept this virtual thank you and giant hug from all of us. We can’t wait to see all of you – and those smiles -- at our first post-pandemic event. Sincerely, Janis Burke, CEO Harris County - Houston Sports Authority

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#WeAreHoustonSports

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A HCHSA VOLUNTEER?

GET INVOLVED! JOIN OUR TEAM! Volunteers are at the heart of successful sporting events in Houston. HCHSA is in need of great folks throughout the year to be the face of Houston Sports for everything from all-star games to NCAA championships. Special events and incentives are available as a thank you to those who give their time. Click here to get more information. | PAGE 29

#WeAreHoustonSports

HCHSA VOLUNTEERS 2019 BY THE NUMBERS

EVENTS

1048

4389

VOLUNTEER SHIFTS

176

242

MALE VOLUNTEERS

FEMALE VOLUNTEERS

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418 VOLUNTEERS

HOURS VOLUNTEERED

16-79 AGE RANGES #WeAreHoustonSports

#FlatenTheCurve The Guidelines

As Houston continues to reopen, its venues and events are working

restore

the

community's

confidence

safely

attending and working events. As a result, the Houston Venue & Events Task Force includes the following venues, teams, and events below. The task force has established consistent operating guidelines across all Houston-area venues and events, accompanied by unified educational and informational messaging, to increase awareness of the new policies and procedures and better inform guests and employees of how to attend events safely. These operating guidelines are called HOUSTONClean . Click here to learn more.

HOUSTON HOUSTON HOUSTON HOUSTON HOUSTON

ASTROS DYNAMO DASH ROCKETS TEXANS

SEUNEV

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HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO HOUSTON MARATHON COMMITTEE MAYOR’S OFFICE OF SPECIAL EVENTS

STROPS

HOUSTON FIRST HARRIS COUNTY-HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY HARRIS COUNTY SPORTS & CONVENTION CORPORATION

STNEVE LAICEPS

TNEMEGANAM

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH: GEORGE R. BROWN CONVENTION CENTER NRG PARK BBVA STADIUM MINUTE MAID PARK TOYOTA CENTER

#WeAreHoustonSports

BOARD OF DIRECTORS The Board of Directors is composed of citizens of Houston and Harris County, including business owners, entrepreneurs, and attorneys, as well as religious and community leaders. Each is selected by Harris County Commissioners Court or Houston City Council. The Chairman of the Board is jointly selected by those bodies. This ensures that the taxpayers are represented while overseeing the investment in Houston’s major sports arenas. All board members are volunteers without a political agenda. Their mission is to provide citizens of Houston and Harris County state-of-the-art sports facilities to enable the destination to bring in revenues by attracting major sporting, entertainment, and convention events that, in turn, benefit the local and regional economy.

J. Kent Friedman Chairman of the Board

Joseph Alan Callier Director

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Lawrence R. Catuzzi Vice Chairman

Cindy Clifford Director

Dr. Laura Murillo Secretary

Zina Garrison Director

Robert Woods Treasurer

Martye M. Kendrick Director

Willie J. Alexander Director

Chad Burke Director

Bruce D. Oakley Dr. Juan Sánchez Muñoz Tom Sprague Director Director Director

#WeAreHoustonSports